The increase would raise the wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 over two years.

Would have raised the state's minimum wage above its current level of $4.25 an hour.

The bill would raise the minimum wage for the first time in eight years, to $4.55 an hour, up from $3.35.

Congress has not raised the federal minimum wage, $5.15 an hour, since 1997.

This would raise the average minimum wage from 737 to 744.

Chicago passed legislation to force the company to raise its wages.

"But they cannot make fun of the fact that for the first time in 10 years, we have raised the minimum wage."

The bill also includes the Democratic plan to raise the minimum wage by $2.15 over two years.

Reagan's administration is the only one not to have raised the minimum wage.

House Democrats back a plan to raise the minimum wage to $5.05 by 1992.